The three British military interrogators under investigation for war crimes are not the only service personnel who may face charges over alleged abuses in Iraq. Bruce Houlder QC, the Director of Service Prosecutions, said last week that senior officers could face charges if there is evidence they condoned or encouraged abuse.
Any charges are likely to be brought under the International Criminal Court Act 2001. At first sight, this may seem surprising. The act was passed to enable Britain to ratify the Rome treaty of 1998, which established the world's first permanent International Criminal Court (ICC). Under the legislation, suspected war criminals may be sent for trial in The Hague and convicted defendants may serve their sentences in British prisons.
So part 5 of the 2001 act creates offences of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. These are defined in the same way as the offences that might come before the ICC.
"War crimes" includes not only torture but serious violations of the laws of armed conflict. These include "committing outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment".
The main culprits are sitting in Westminster or who resided at 10 Downing Street. The likelihood of Blair and Brown and those mindless morons who backed the illegal invasion of Iraq ever standing trial is zero.
Blackpool MP Gordon Marsden voted for the the insane actions and then has the audacity to mouth words of condolences to the relatives of the Brave Fallen. What hypocrisy.
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